When it comes to vehicle wheels, bigger is almost certainly better. Better handling and better looks is a good enough reason for large-diameter wheels on almost any vehicle, but how big is too big? According to Audi, weve almost reached critical mass already.The latest Audi vehicles all come with huge wheels a set of gigantic 23-inch units, in fact, can be found on the RS Q8.The A6 has optional 21-inch rims, and the 2020 RS 6 Avant is available with 22-inch wheels as an option.But wheels larger than 23 inches make no sense, Audi design boss Marc Lichte told Motor Authority last week. Package wise, I would say this is definitely close to the limit.Ask GM, however, and itll say 23-inch wheels are just the start. Were headed towards 24- and 26-inch wheels, General Motors design boss Michael Simcoe predicted while speaking on the Brembo Red podcast. He also mentioned that 18- and 19-inch wheels are now considered small by modern standards.Concept cars are all drawn with almost comically large wheels in the first place, so it was only natural wed see them finally make it into the production versions.So who do you think will come out right in these forecasts? Will consumers heed the Germans logic, and stop wheel sizes at 23 inches; or will we take the donk route the American suggests and make Bigfoot-sized wheels commonplace?Take Our Poll
Origin: Audi designer suggests wheel size has peaked, but GM thinks 26-inchers coming
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Ferrari orders fashion designer to take his shoes off his car
Ferrari is ordering a fashion designer to remove an Instagram photo of his shoes on the back of a Ferrari a car that he owns and paid for The Fashion Law reports.At first, the cease-and-desist order sounds ridiculous, but Ferrari actually has a case.The argument goes the Ferrari brand name invokes a sense of luxury and exclusivity, so displaying any other brand alongside it makes or attempts to make that brand seem luxurious and exclusive, too.According to the letter to designer Phillipp Plein from Ferraris outside counsel Fabrizio Sanna, Pleins photo attempts to associate the automaker with a lifestyle (that is) totally inconsistent with (its) brand perception.The undesired connection between Ferraris trademarks on the one hand, and Philipp Pleins line of shoes (and the questionable manner in which they are promoted) on the other hand, is interfering negatively with the rights enjoyed by Ferraris selected licensees, which are exclusively entitled to use Ferraris trademarks to produce and promote line of shoes Ferrari branded, the letter reads. View this post on Instagram 50 shades of 🍏 🍏 🍏 A post shared by Philipp Plein (@philippplein) on Jun 30, 2019 at 9:10am PDTComplicating matters is the questionable manner in which Pleins fashions are promoted: in the past, Plein paid Chris Brown, whos faced felony charges for rape, sexual battery and assault (among countless other allegations) to take the stage (at his S/S18 fashion show) alongside Tekashi 6ix9ine, the rapper currently facing jail time for pleading guilty to sleeping with an underage girl and filming the act, according to GQ.Plein has called the letter blackmail, but he might want to stop and think about how all the above-mentioned context doesnt put his brand in the best light.Plein has 48 hours to comply with the formal ask, lest Ferrari bring such unlawful, unfair and harmful behavior to the attention of the Courts.Our take? Keep your stupid $800 shoes and your gaudy-green-wrapped $350,000 Ferrari 812 Superfast away from us,
Origin: Ferrari orders fashion designer to take his shoes off his car
Jaguar head designer Ian Callum stepping down this summer
Ian Callum, Jaguar head designer.Handout Ian Callum, the well-known head of Jaguar design who helped shape the marque’s modern look, will be leaving the company effective July 1, he revealed early June, to be succeeded creative design director Julian Thomson. Callum, 64, has spent the past 20 years working with Jaguar, and said while he’s stepping away from the brand to explore other design projects, he will still work as a styling consultant for the automaker. The designs spearheaded by Callum since 1999 include the Jaguar XF sedan; the F-Type two-seat sports car; and, most recently, the I-Pace electric crossover. He started his career working with Ford, and eventually headed up Aston Martin design, leading the teams responsible for the DB7, DB9 and Vanquish. Yesterday I told my team I was leaving as Design Director for Jaguar after 20 years. I’ve done what I set out to do. Time for a new adventure. I pass the baton onto my good friend and great designer Julian Thomson.… https://t.co/Q8eC5Ir9Uw Ian Callum (@IanCallum) June 4, 2019 I came into this role with a mission to take Jaguar design back to where it deserved to be, Callum said in a statement. It has taken 20 years, but I believe I have achieved what I set out to do. Given the strength of both our products and the design team I feel that now is the right time to move on, both personally and professionally. Julian Thomson, who has been with Jaguar since 2000, also started with Ford before becoming head of design at
Origin: Jaguar head designer Ian Callum stepping down this summer
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